Sagacious HF was a horse of a lifetime for many riders having had a long and illustrious career competing until the age of 23. He had an international career that spanned 14 years and four U.S. riders earned their gold medals during that time.

Sagacious HF was a 1999 KWPN by Welt Hit II out of Judith (by Cocktail x Lector) bred by G. Van de Boogaard in Erp. He was found in Holland and purchased by Toine Hoefs, Kathy Connelly in partnership with Al and Judy Guden of Hyperion Farms in Wellington, FL.

In 2003, the Gudens bought out the partners and he was imported to the USA in 2004 first competing in the U.S.A. in 2005 by Mary Collier.

In 2006, Lauren Sammis was given the ride on Sagacious training him up to the Grand Prix level. He was super successful under Sammis achieving some of his largest career highlights. He made his international debut in 2006 at Dressage at Devon and culminated his time with Sammis with a gold and silver at the 2007 Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro.

Sagacious HF then went on to carry several riders to gold medals and achieved numerous more international CDI successes both in the U.S. and abroad.

Upon returning from Europe in August 2017, Sagacious tested positive to glanders in quarantine. After major legal pressure, the horse was retested and came up negative.

Sagacious was retired from sport in October 2022 and spent his retirement at Hyperion Farm.

On January 2024 he was humanely euthanized.

“An equine legend has left us,” Caroline Roffman wrote. “Surrounded by his family and friends Sagacious HF was laid to rest. He remained brilliant , fresh and often completely wild until the end. Sagacious was a horse or a lifetime for so many people. He will never be forgotten and will be impossible to replace. Licorice remained his snack of choice until his last day. We know heaven has an endless supply.”

To read a comprehensive summary of Sagacious HF’s long career – visit Eurodresage.com.